"General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi and a number of fighters and Islamic Resistance [Hezbollah] forces were attacked by the Zionist regime's helicopters," said a statement on the Guards' website on Monday.
"This brave general and some members of Hezbollah were martyred," it said, adding that Allahdadi was in Syria "as an adviser helping the Syrian government to confront takfiri Salafist [Sunni extremist] terrorists."
Shia Iran is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's main regional ally in his war against the mainly Sunni rebels seeking to overthrow him.
A source close to Hezbollah - a Lebanese political group with a powerful military wing and a close ally of Tehran which are backing Syrian forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebels - earlier told the AFP news agency that six Iranian soldiers, including commanders, died alongside six of its own fighters in the attack, but the Guards made no mention of other losses.
The raid, near Quneitra on the Syrian-controlled side of the Golan Heights on Sunday, enraged Hezbollah's supporters, but analysts said the group would seek to avoid a major escalation with Israel.
Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from the Lebanese capital Beirut, said that while the situation was under control, there was still a feeling of unease.
"The question is how is Hezbollah going to respond, what type of retaliatory action can we expect now from Hezbollah and will it be strong in that it could lead to a war?"
She said a more measured response was expected, adding that she had spoken to a Hezbollah representative who effectively said: "Wait and see."
Hezbollah officials said Jihad Mughniyeh, son of the group's late commander Imad Mughniyeh, would be buried on Monday afternoon in Beirut's southern suburbs. Massive crowds were expected.
The six fighters killed on Sunday afternoon were carrying out a field reconnaissance mission in Mazraat Amal village, Hezbollah's Al-Manar television said.
An Israeli security source confirmed a helicopter had carried out a strike against "terrorists" in the Golan who were allegedly carrying out an attack.
[aljazeera.com]
19/1/14
--
-
Related:
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Russian Defense Minister flies to Iran for signing military cooperation agreement...
ReplyDeleteRussian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has left for Iran on an official visit for signing a military cooperation agreement.
“While in Tehran Shoigu will hold talks with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Dehgan,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
“Crucial issues of global and regional security and measures to step up military and technical cooperation will be discussed at the meeting,” he said.
A military cooperation agreement is to be signed.
Previously, Shoigu and Dehgan met on the sidelines of the third Moscow conference on international security in May 2014. They noted the need for tighter defense cooperation, which, Shoigu said, “has always been of importance” to bilateral relations.................http://itar-tass.com/en/russia/771994
19/1/15